New Delhi/Ahemedabad/Shimla: Assembly election results declared on Thursday show that Narendra Modi-led BJP government is set to return to power for the third consecutive term by securing over 50 percent votes. On the contrary, Congress has managed to get a comfortable majority in 68-member Himachal assembly by crossing the half mark of 34 seats. As the exit-poll surveys had predicted, Prem Kumar Dhumal-led BJP government has been voted out of power in the hill state.

The Congress is a winner in Gujarat, we have been able to contain BJP and Modi to under 117 seats: P Chidambaram, Union Finance Minister

Gujarat has gone Modi's way...but the result does not mean he has gained national acceptability: Abhishek Manu Singhvi, spokesperson, Congress

There has been some kind of campaign to belittle Modi's leadership and governance since he became Chief Minister, not just a national campaign but an international campaign: Ravi Shankar Prasad on Chidambram’s remark

Counting began at 8 AM at 33 places in the state where 44,579 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) have been kept in rooms under heavy security.

Within 3-4 hours, trends will be available and hopefully by 4 PM all results will be declared: EC officials

The fate of 1,666 candidates including Gujarat Chief Minister Modi, his cabinet colleagues, Congress stalwarts like party state unit president Arjun Modhwadia, Leader of Opposition Shaktisinh Gohil and former Chief Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela would be decided today.

The elections were virtually a three-way contest with rebel BJP leader Keshubhai Patel, a former Chief Minister, launching his political outfit Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP) before the polls and main Opposition Congress running a sustained and aggressive campaign against Modi.

Congress had lost power in the key western state in 1990.

Modi, who is the longest serving chief minister, is seeking a third straight term in office and exit polls have predicted a win for BJP.

Apart from the three main contenders, 33 other parties are also trying their luck at the hustings.

HIMACHAL PRADESH

Counting of votes for all 68 assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh started at 8 a.m

The fate of 459 candidates, including 106 independents, will be decided during the day. Voting was held Nov 4.Nearly 74 percent of the 4.6 million electors exercised their franchise.

This was an all-time record for assembly polls in the hill state.

The main contest is between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress.

The Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP), formed under the leadership of BJP rebel and four-time former MP Maheshwar Singh, and the CPI-M are giving a tough fight to both main political parties on more than five seats.

The NCP and the Trinamool Congress contested for the first time in the state.

In 2007, the BJP won 41 seats, the Congress 23, the Bahujan Samaj Party one seat and independents three seats. The BSP legislator later joined the BJP.